DIFFERENT TRAINS 2018 / 2019 Concert Series FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Soundstreams audiences are accustomed each written compelling string works: Dorothy to programs that pursue themes: musical, Chang (Vancouver), “Streams” for solo viola; extra-musical and sometimes both. This and Rolf Wallin (Oslo, Norway), “Curiosity program does both, a direct result of a chance Cabinet” and “Swans Kissing,” each for string meeting on the street with violinist and coach quartet. We programmed these three works and par excellence Barry Shiffman. Barry has been invited both composers (and the Rolstons!) to a mentor to the impressive Rolston String be in residence for the ECW, which will Quartet, and mentioned they had rights for conclude tomorrow morning after ten intensive a limited time to a recent video created for days. Rounding out tonight’s program is one of Steve Reich’s iconic “Different Trains.” R. Murray Schafer’s most beloved works, his “String Quartet #2 (Waves)”. While we have programmed a number of Reich’s best known works, often in his presence, never In terms of extra-musical themes, our insightful have we presented “Different Trains,” and the colleague David Jaeger has pointed out in his opportunity to present it with the Rolstons in this program note that several of tonight’s works are special version with video proved irresistible. themed around water. And Reich’s Different So repertoire for strings became the evening’s Trains bears musical witness to the Holocaust, clear musical theme. one of the possible responses to philosopher and composer Theodor Adorno’s assertion that At the same time we made that decision, we “poetry after Auschwitz is barbaric.” were looking for visiting mentors for our annual Emerging Composers Workshop (ECW). Two composers previously featured in our series had Lawrence Cherney Artistic Director, Soundstreams Soundstreams would like to acknowledge that this event takes place on traditional territories. These territories include the Wendat, Anishinabek Nation, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nations, and the Métis Nation. ABOUT SOUNDSTREAMS A world leader among contemporary music They include; Encounters, a free discovery companies, Soundstreams is the foremost series featuring performances, discussions, global presenter of new Canadian music. and audience participation; the Emerging Lawrence Cherney, Artistic Director and Ben Composer Workshop, helping talented Dietschi, Executive Director are committed to contemporary composers worldwide launch showcasing the work of living and international their careers; BMO SoundWave provides composers with a focus on innovative thematic accessible tickets to young adults; and and experiential programming. Soundstreams SoundMakers provides interactive learning also serves a broad community of music lovers experiences online, in the classroom, and through free outreach and education programs. in the community. SOUNDSTREAMS.CA Proud to support SoundMakers. We are working together with Soundstreams to make a difference in our communities. ® The TD logo and other trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. M05234 (0116) DIFFERENT TRAINS Program Rolston String Quartet* Luri Lee, Violin Emily Kruspe, Violin Hezekiah Leung, Viola Jonathan Lo, Cello Steven Dann, Viola R. Murray Schafer String Quartet No. 2 “Waves” Rolston String Quartet (b. 1933, Canada) Rolf Wallin Curiosity Cabinet Rolston String Quartet (b. 1957, Norway) I. Saltarello II. Barcarole I III. 4 x 4 x 4 IV. O Schmerz! V. Corrente VI. Vesper VII. Momentum VIII. À propos IX. Barcarole 2 X. ¡Arriba! XI. Carillon Dorothy Chang Streams Steven Dann, viola (b. 1970, Canada) I. with fury II. diffused III. Breathless Rolf Wallin Swans Kissing Rolston String Quartet (b. 1957, Norway) INTERMISSION Steve Reich Different Trains Rolston String Quartet (b.1936, United States) I. America—Before the war Video by Beatrix Caravaggio II. Europe—During the war III. After the war * The Rolston String Quartet appears with generous support Video Different Trains directed and edited by Beatriz Caravaggio from Randall Howard & Judy McMullan. Produced by Fundación BBVA and ArsVideo Producciones Patrick Lavender, Production Manager Due to the presentation of copyrighted materials, photography Andrei Mazuruc, Associate Production Manager and videography is strictly forbidden. Brandon Wells, Technician SOUNDSTREAMS.CA 5 SOUNDSTREAMS PRESENTS DIFFERENT TRAINS By David Jaeger A composer’s inspiration can come from material of the work is not fixed but is perpetu- anywhere. A quick scan of the titles of the works ally changing, and even though certain motivic in tonight’s program reveals a wide range of figures are used repeatedly, they undergo suggestive images. In fact, all the music on the continual dynamic, rhythmic and tempo variation.” program is laden with deep meaning, derived In 1978 Schafer was awarded the inaugural from non-musical sources. Jules Léger Prize for New Chamber Music for this now iconic Canadian string quartet. R. Murray Schafer’s “String Quartet No. 2,” subtitled, “Waves”, is constructed from a Vancouver composer Dorothy Chang’s 2005 specific and intricately detailed source. Schafer composition for solo viola, “Streams,” develops revealed, “In the course of the World Sound- in a much different way. She wrote, “The title of scape Project, we recorded and analyzed ocean Streams refers to the stream of consciousness waves on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of approach to its formal structure. Written in three Canada. The recurrent pattern of waves is short movements, the piece features a number always asymmetrical but we have noted that the of musical ideas that reappear in various forms duration from crest to crest usually falls throughout the work. The development of the between six and eleven seconds. It is this wave material is loosely structured, unfolding freely motion that gives the quartet its rhythm and in a flow of musical gestures that alternately structure. The listener will readily hear the connect, leap to other ideas or circle back on dynamic undulations of waves in this piece, and themselves. Small fragments and motives are as the piece develops, several types of wave recycled and reinterpreted, moving from an motion are combined. Aside from this, I have aggressive and declamatory opening movement, sought to give the quartet a liquid quality in ‘with fury’, to a quiet and introspective second which everything is constantly dissolving and movement, ‘diffused’, and closing with a fast, flowing into everything else. That is to say, the light scherzo entitled ‘breathless’.” 6 2018-2019 CONCERT SERIES In the case of Norwegian composer Rolf Wallin’s American composer Steve Reich wrote about string quartets, “Swans Kissing” (2010) and “Different Trains” (1988), for String Quartet and “Curiosity Cabinet” (2009), there are contrasting pre-recorded performance tape, “The idea for sources of inspiration. Swedish artist Hilma af the piece came from my childhood. When I was Klint’s (1862-1944) series of paintings, “The one year old my parents separated. My mother Swan” (1914) is a set of increasingly abstract moved to Los Angeles and my father stayed in variations on a striking figurative picture: one New York. Since they arranged divided custody, white swan flying down from above on a black I travelled back and forth by train frequently background, and one black swan flying up from between New York and Los Angeles from 1939 below on a white background. Their beaks meet to 1942 accompanied by my governess. While “ I DON’T EXPECT THIS COLLECTION OF MUSICAL MINIATURES TO ACHIEVE MIRACLES, BUT I HOPE IT CAN SERVE AS A SMALL CABINET OF MUSICAL CURIOSITY FOR THE CURIOUS LISTENER ROLF WALLIN with a kiss in the middle of the picture. Wallin the trips were exciting and romantic at the time says, “Like these paintings, my “Swans Kissing” I now look back and think that, if I had been in is split in two. Two bodies of music mirror each Europe during this period, as a Jew I would have other exactly in some aspects, but differ vastly had to ride very different trains. in character. The first body flows slowly and viscerally upwards, the second pushes downwards “With this in mind I wanted to make a piece that with a relentless pulse. They meet with a “kiss” would accurately reflect the whole situation. halfway through the piece.” In order to prepare the tape I did the following: On the other hand, Wallin’s earlier quartet, 1. Record my governess Virginia, then in her “Curiosity Cabinet” is a group of eleven miniature seventies, reminiscing about our train trips quartets inspired by the age old practice of together. making curiosity cabinets, a practice, Wallin 2. Record a retired Pullman porter, Lawrence says, “followed by kings, scientists, rich Davis, then in his eighties, who used to ride merchants etc. of collecting remarkable natural lines between New York and Los Angeles, and man made objects: unicorn’s horns, reminiscing about his life. wondrous corals and giant pearls, artificial 3. Collect recordings of Holocaust survivors nightingales, mermaids’ skeletons, breathtaking speaking of their experiences. artifacts, deformed creatures in glass jars. And 4. Collect recorded American and European above it all: a stuffed crocodile appearing to train sounds of the ‘30s and ‘40s. walk upside down under the ceiling. “The strings then literally imitate that speech “I don’t expect this collection of musical melody. ‘Different Trains’ is in three movements. miniatures to achieve miracles, but I hope it can They are: serve as a small cabinet of musical curiosity for the curious listener.” 1. ‘America—Before the war’ 2. ‘Europe—During the war’ 3. ‘After the war.’” SOUNDSTREAMS.CA 7 STAFF AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS STAFF Lawrence Cherney Artistic Director Ben Dietschi Executive Director Emma Fowler Director of Artistic Planning & Outreach Peter Donato Director of Communications Cheryl Stone Manager of Advancement & Patron Engagement Felix Mills Metcalf Foundation Intern Community Engagement Associate BOARD OF DIRECTORS Daniel Weinzweig President Lawrence Smith Vice-President Norman Woo Treasurer Joseph J.